We have a conundrum to suggest to our readers today. What is the probability logic for the fact that we in Malta had 10 fatalities from fireworks in 2010 and none so far this year?

In a tragedy that struck Għarb this time last year, six people died. Only a few weeks earlier, a man died in an explosion at the 15 August fireworks factory in Dwejra, limits of Mosta. Another man died in May 2010 at the St Catherine’s fireworks factory in Marsaxlokk, while two fireworks enthusiasts lost their lives in February in an explosion at the St Sebastian’s fireworks factory in Qormi.

We say now that after last Sunday’s festa of Our Lady of Graces in Żabbar, the festa season can be well and truly declared over.

We ask again, how come there were 10 fatalities last year and none this year?

One may argue that 2010 was a bad year for fireworks enthusiasts all over. It was even said that 2010 had more tragedies than previous years combined.

But still, to go from 10 fatalities to none whatsoever beggars belief in this being just a fluke, a statistical ebb and flow.

There must be something that goes beyond the mere ebb and flow of accidents, is there not? We will dare to suggest what that ‘unknown’ may be.

In our opinion it may well be that this year, following so many fatalities last year, all those involved in fireworks, from licence holders, purchasers, enthusiasts to financial backers, took extra precautions to ensure that no accidents may happen. And, sure enough, none did (at least, touch wood, so far).

We are not claiming that last year’s tragic accidents happened because of lack of proper precautions being taken. That would be an insult to the dead, who paid dearly for whatever happened.

But care and proper precautions are never an optional extra. In fact, whatever the reasons for last year’s tragedies, it is undoubted that this year all those responsible took extra precautions and the results are there to see. If what we are saying is true, then this means that the extra precautions did the trick. One can never underestimate the danger of people who are not properly trained or not under the proper supervision in the mixing of volatile substances such as are used in the making of fireworks.

That is, after all, human nature: Unfortunately, roads are repaired only after an accident takes place, machines are repaired or rendered safe only after an accident happens, people wear safety gear only after somebody gets hurt while not wearing the safety harness… the list goes on.

The problem now is not to allow things to fall into complacency for that is where accidents can happen. When people get too confident driving, that is when one must be afraid an accident is in the offing; so too when people get too complacent and laid back as to the wearing of protective clothing, that is when one must fear an accident is round the corner.

For the sake of one and all, we hope we are completely wrong, but we fear we are not. It is no statistical fluke that last year we had 10 fatalities from firework accidents and this year we have had (so far) none. Most probably, people were that little bit more careful. The worst thing that can happen is that now people relax once again or the police relax their supervision, or some ill-advised practices are allowed to creep in again.

That’s all it takes to make the difference between life and death for some poor souls.